(CNN) -- A Spanish fishing ship with 36 international crew members has lost contact with the shore after issuing distress calls saying pirates were attacking it off the coast of Somalia, the ship's owner, Echebastar Fleet, said Friday.

Early Friday, the tuna fishing ship sent out distress signals saying it was being attacked by pirates. Since then, the company said, it has been impossible to establish communication with the ship.

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The ship, called the Alakrana, was off the coast of Somalia at the time, CNN affiliate CNN+ reported.

The executives of the company are en route to Kenya, which neighbors Somalia, the company said.

Sixteen of the ship's 36 crew members are from Spain. Eight are from Indonesia, four from Ghana, three from Senegal, two each are from Ivory Coast and Madagascar, and one is from Seychelles, the company said.